There are probably a lot of opinions out there on this subject, but I have to ask, just how deep can you take SM from and still practice successful CPR?  I fish a large, deep hilland type reservoir with many submerges hump type structure and very clear water.  Seems like every year they move to the 40' - 50' depths adjacent to open water humps, but I'm reluctant to fish them due to my concern about their well being.  Anyone have any facts on this subject?

I've caught SM on Lake Erie up to 35 feet deep and turned em loose. It seems that if you get them back into the water quickly they do ok. I have seen some that rode around in a livewell all day and couldn't swim back down w/o fizzing them. For the depths you speak of I'm not really sure......

46 ft on the bottom is the deepest smallies I've caught. I did learn how to fizz a fish but like using a very heavy jig on another rod. Just cut the piont off and hold the hook in the mouth and start the fish down.

This year i'm trying the lead off a marker bouy.

Garnet

Thanks for the input guys. Like I said, there is little written literature on this subject for some reason?